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Occupational Therapy

Our occupational therapists are skilled in training individuals for activities of everyday life. They help patients following a stroke or heart attack or those with progressive, debilitating diseases achieve more independence in all facets of their lives.

Children's Early Intervention

This program for infants, toddlers and young children with developmental disabilities includes a comprehensive evaluation by a physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist, followed by an appropriate plan for continued therapy to help the child meet developmental milestones, help the family with care at home and help plan for the future in school. Our therapists work with children with a variety of diagnoses.

Children's Swallowing/Feeding Issues

When children avoid certain foods, it may be due to texture or a tactile issue, but it may also be attributed to low tone in the mouth, a motor-planning problem or trouble with muscles in the throat. A speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist specially trained and experienced in treating feeding or swallowing disorders can provide a treatment plan to improve your child's eating and swallowing skills, as well as increase the variety of foods your child will accept. Learn more about swallowing and feeding disorders.

Driving Assessment

Our Occupational Therapy Department has the ability and equipment to assess the cognitive, visual, perceptual and motor aspects of driving. The assessment can help identify specific limitations so that a plan of care can be initiated to correct these limitations and restore function if appropriate.

Dysphagia

Occupational therapists or speech therapists work with individuals with swallowing issues in order to obtain an in-depth clinical assessment. As part of this process, the individual may be assessed using a video swallow study. The intervention that follows will include diet changes, caregiver training, and exercise/instruction as appropriate. We also offer VitalStim therapy, a relatively new treatment technique, which uses small electrical currents to stimulate and re-educate the muscles involved in swallowing.

Hand Therapy

Repetitive strain injuries, work-related injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, pain-related syndromes, postsurgery and trauma/crush injuries are just a few of the upper-extremity problems that can be addressed by ValleyCare's occupational therapists and certified hand therapists. Treatment plans are personalized based on functional goals and rate of healing, and they follow established protocols based on the latest advancements in technology and methodology.